Lavinia Glover

Lavinia joined Becket Chambers in October 2015 and is developing her general practice in all of Chambers core areas.

Lavinia is particularly interested in ensuring that members of the public are able to understand the legal process and access the support available to them. Whilst undertaking her Bar Professional Training, she volunteered with the Personal Support Unit in the Newcastle Combined Court, supporting Litigants in Person throughout the court process. Lavinia also participated in ‘Street Law’, a scheme that aims to inform members of the public of their legal rights. In this role, she organised and delivered presentations to community groups on how the law affects them.
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Lavinia joined Chambers in 2015, and focuses her practice on private child and injunctions under the Family Act. She frequently represents vulnerable clients, and acts for clients in for emergency non-molestation applications.

Lavinia represents both applicants and respondents at First Hearing Dispute Resolution Appointments though to the Final Hearing.

She is known for her ability to put clients at ease with her personal and professional approach, and is highly competent in both processing large amounts of information and explaining it to her clients in a clear and concise way.

She has a natural empathy, and her calm and non-judgemental approach helps to put people at ease even when they are dealing will particularly difficult circumstances such as allegations of abuse.

She works with people from a multitude of different socio-economic, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, and has experience of working with translators. She is highly aware of the cultural differences which can affect people’s views of the rights of parents, put pressure on someone not to leave an abusive relationship, or make people reluctant to report serious issues to the police.

She has a natural ability to empathise with people’s circumstances and to build trust and open communication, even where cultural differences make this particularly challenging for her clients.

Lavinia is committed to establishing a diverse practice, and she is the Equality and Diversity Officer for Chambers.

In her spare time, when not with her young family, Lavinia helps to run her local branch of the Teenage Cancer Trust, organising fundraising events.

Children - Private Law (CAP)

Lavinia specialises in working with parents – who may be either the applicant or respondent – in private children law cases.

She accepts instructions in general family matters and frequently represents clients in emergency non-molestation applications.

She has represented several fathers in cases where contact with their children has stopped, and where there were allegations of sexual abuse, domestic violence or assault. She understands the impact that these allegations can have, and has experience of representing clients in cases where the allegations were subsequently shown to be false or malicious.

She has a particular interest in cases involving allegations of psychological or emotional abuse – for example, cases involving manipulative relationships, including coercive control or gaslighting. She also has particular experience of representing clients where false allegations have been made. Her natural empathy towards other people’s circumstances, and her understanding of the challenges of parenting young children, gives her the ability to quickly gain her clients’ trust.

Lavinia is often the first port of call for clients who have not yet fully acknowledged the extent of the abuse they have suffered. She understands the issues faced by many victims of domestic abuse, and recognises that, whilst in the orbit of abuse, it is very difficult to leave. Often, clients have spent years being controlled and isolated both from a support network and also from the resources to leave the relationship. Lavinia recognises that it is not always an easy or simple step to leave an abusive relationship, and is able to gather information in a sensitive way.

She understands that many of her clients find it difficult to talk about their circumstances, which may involve serious allegations and make it necessary to talk about explicit issues. When representing clients against whom allegations have been made – for example of domestic violence or sexual abuse – she takes care to ensure that they understand that she is not there to judge them, but can only represent them to the best of her ability if they are honest with her.

Sometimes, clients are embarrassed to talk about their own behaviour, and Lavinia’s calm, non-judgemental approach enables them to trust her enough to work together.

 

Articles by Lavinia Glover

Guidance on unregulated psychologists instructed as experts Re C (‘Parental Alienation’; Instruction of Expert) [2023] EWHC 345

Practitioners are well aware that early identification of parental alienation is crucial. The longer alienating behaviour goes undetected, the further entrenched a child may become, impacting the relationship with either or both of their parents. Often a finding of alienation is determined on the strength of the factual evidence provided to the court with the Continue reading

Live With/ Shared Care Orders

This article discusses the differences between a “Live with”/ “Shared Care Orders” to dispel to the myth that either Order gives a parent a greater level of responsibility.  It is hoped that by addressing the rudimentary points, it will help to re-focus a parent’s mind on what the real issues of importance are in Children Continue reading

Re HH (a child) (contact order: stay of order pending appeal) [2022] EWHC 3369 (Fam)

This article considers the recent case of Re HH and the principles of staying an order pending the appeal. The full case can be found here: https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Fam/2022/3369.html Background The case concerned HH, a boy aged nearly 3 years. Father made an application for a Child Arrangements Order to have direct contact with HH after having Continue reading

Lavinia Glover's Testimonials for Children - Private Law (CAP)

“Lavinia provided exemplary representation for the client, his objectives were achieved and he was reassured by Lavinia’s submissions and advice.

Lavinia provided the draft order and an attendance note promptly following the hearing, enabling me to progress directions as necessary. The communication from your chambers in terms of booking arrangements and provision of the fee note was helpful and efficient throughout.

I would not hesitate to instruct Lavinia again, and highly recommend her to my clients.”

Miss M from solicitors instructing Lavinia Glover – Oct 23

“I am writing to express and acknowledge your total professionalism in representing me at the last hearing. I would like to thank you for being thorough in reading and following the large bundle, again my experience , is that , nobody actually has the time or resources to do that.

It is total credit to you , that you do your work absolute thoroughly and in my view , at the top level of professionalism.

Please continue with your great work that will help families and children.”

Client instructing Lavinia Glover through solicitors – May 23

“Lavinia was fantastic! The client was very happy and praised her approach. Please thank her again on my behalf & we will be sure to send her further work.”

Miss M from solicitors instructing Lavinia Glover – February 23